Bush for metal barrels



March 7, 1944- G. w. LAwToN BUSH FOR METAL BAHRELS Filed Aug. 13. 1941Patented Mar. 7, 1944 BUSH FOR METAL BARRELS George W. Lawton,Cincinnati, Ohio, assgnor to The United States Bung ManufacturingCompany, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of New York Application August13, 1941, Serial No. 406,693.

2 Claims.

This invention relates to barrels, casks and other similar containersparticularly those made of metal such as steel or aluminum, and isspecically concerned with the means for effecting a closure of this typeof container.

The metal barrels which are conventionally in use today, particularly inthe handling of oil, are formed from a comparatively thin gauge ofsteel. This thin material is used primarily to reduce the cost of theproduct since, to a marked extent, the barrels used to transport oil areonetrip containers and are not returned to the refinery or other sourceof supply for refilling.

In the use of this comparatively thin gauge steel, it has been found tobe impractical to close the barrel opening with any instrumentality suchas a Wooden plug or bung which requires pounding for a secure seat. Inbarrels of this type even a light pounding of the bung will bend ordeform the metal in the near vicinity of the barrel opening. For thisreason, at the present time, metal barrels are conventionally providedwith an interior threaded bush into which a threaded screw cap isfitted. Ihese caps are conventionally made from metal and are providedwith notches or the like into which a tool may be ttld to screw the captightly into position in the Closures of this type provide an effectiveseal but they are much more expensive to manufacture than are bungs orplugs formed from wood or like materials. However, in order to providean effective closure utilizing a wooden bung or plug, it is necessary toreenforce the bush and /strengthen the portion of the top of the barreladjacent the walls of the bush to withstand, without bending ordeformation, the pressure necessary to force the bung into the bush toconstitute a tight seal. Additionally, it is desirable to provide a bushwhich is adapted for use with a bung inserter which willseat the bungunder steady and even pressure, as distinguished from `the hard, unevenpressure of pounding.

With these and other purposes in mind, one object of the presentinvention has been to provide a steel barrel formed from conventional'thin gauge steel, but having an opening adapted to receive underpressure a wooden bung without deformation of the metal adjacent theopening.

Another object has been to provide a steel barrel having abung-receiving opening reenforced b y a bush in such a way that it willwithstand the pressure incident to the insertion of a Wooden bung.

Another object has been to provide a bush having an outwardly projectingv,peripheral lip formed from two plies of .metal tightly maintained inposition for cooperation. with an inserter used to positionthe bungunder pressure.

Another object has been' toprovide a bush for a steel barrel in whichtheentire barreljopening is reenforced by double thicknesses of materialsimilar to that from which the barrel is fabricated and in which a verytight and effective seal is formed Without the use of a Weld or rivets.

Another object has been to provide a complete 4 closure means for theopeningina steel barrel including, in addition to the Wooden bung whichis the primary closure means, a secondary closure cap foradditionalprotection against leakage.`

Another object has been toprovide a structure of this general typereadily adapted to be sealed with a protective seal to insure that thecontents of the container are not stolen or unlawfully removed.

Other and further objects and advantages will be apparent from aconsideration of the further and more detailed description of theinvention when considered in conjunction with the .drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a plan View of the top of a steel barrel of the type of theinvention showing the outlet opening, the bush, and the particularclosure means of the invention positioned therein.

Figure 2 is a section along the line 2-2 showing details of theconstruction of the'bush and the complete closure means including thebung and cap. v

Figure 3 is a similar section particularly illustrating the method ofattachment offthe bush employed in the invention.

Figure 4 is a similar section showing'the opening with the bushcompletely assembled.

Figure 5 is another section'showing a bung of a dierent typepositionedin theopening, and seal means for protecting the contents ofthe `barrel against unlawful Ause'.

The barrel I, the upper surface 2 of which is shown in Figure 1, ispreferably formed from steel of light gauge, and maybe oflany.conventional construction since the invention is not concerned with theexact details of its construction at any other point except around theaperture or opening generally designated as 3.

The details of the construction of the complete closure means can bebest appreciated from a consideration of Figures 2 and 4. In thesefigures, 2 represents the upper surface of the barrel. This surface hasbeen congurated to provide an annular external corrugation 4 and anupstanding fiange 5, which completely encircles the barrel opening. Thecorrugation effectively strengthens the entire area around the opening.A reenforcing lining or bush, designated generally as 6, having a smoothinner surface for the reception of a bung, is positioned interior of theflange and congurated, as best shown in Figure 4, to form a laterallyprojecting lip of double thickness 1, and a projecting flange 8 ofsingle thickness, also laterally projecting, which flange is adapted tolock the bush tightly' against the upstanding flange 5. This upstandingange 5, in turn, is tightly positioned against the under surface of thedouble thickness lip 'I of the bush, and assists in maintaining therigidity of the latter by preventing any separation of the twothicknesses, particularly when a bung inserter is being used. Theupstanding flange 5 and the vertical wall of the collar member 8 may/beared outwardlyto` anfequal degree for. th'ereception of a tapered bung.

A gasket! is shown in' Figures 3, 4, and5. This gasket may be' formedAfrom ycork or soft metal,

or Atheilike andlprovides' a tight seal between the upstan'ding'fiange 5andthe' surface of the bush 6.

In Figure 2,.the bung Iprovides the primary closure-. 'I'his'bung `may*bei formed from wood, having its sides' taperedinwardly to'coincide withthe tapered Wallsof the bush. It may be cut or compressed; In the-typeof. bung shown in Figure' 2, a hollow-portion lI If is provided tofacilitate' the opening fof the container for the insertion of a'splgotorsp'out throughrth'eV thin wall I2 which maybe readily brokenthrough.: The bung shownin Figure 5 omits thishollow portion and issolidiv throughout.'

In Figure 2, the additional closure `element I3 comprises a cap adapted'to be fitted over the lateral projecting flange 'I and crimped thereon.This cap acts as a reenforcing orsecondary .closure'element'inthe"eventthe bung should prove defective orl for some reason `leakage*should occur.

In Figure 5, a closure seal I4 has itsiwire ends I 5 inserted throughthe aperture I6= in the-lateral extending lip"1 and then 'reinsertedthrough the seal I 4.1 Thisrprovides additional security againsttampering with `the contents of the barrel.

The bush 6 may be stamped from flat' sheet material such as,forexampla'the'scrap remaining after the .round Vbarrel A-iheadshavexbeen stamped from 'a squarev sheet. Theconguration of this memberand of the metal of the upper surface ofthe barrel adjacent the Vopeninglmay be'y performed with i conventional forming machinery. TheinterlockingI-edgf'of the bush 6 around the top andifbottom of. theupstanding flange 5 effectivelyI holds the bush in position and thereisA no necessity forweldingfor rivets. Whatever-'possibility there mightbe 1of leakage betweenfthe upstandingi :flange` 5 and the bush isprevented by the gasket5 which may be. very tightlysqueezed' intopositionito'form a perfect seal;

One of the particular featuresof the invention isthe laterallyprojecting lipof Vdouble thickness LV The doubling of the metal. to formthis iiange not only avoids any sharp edges, but provides a very firmledge adapted to cooperate with a bung inserter.

A bung inserted is a simple tool which is adapt ed to engage with theneck of an opening and force a bung into the opening under considerablepressure. Since, in the operation of this tool, the lip of the bush actsas a fulcrum, and since considerable pressure is exerted, it isnecessary that this lip be particularly strong and rigid. 'Ihe seatingof the under surface of the lip 'I on the upper surface of theupstanding flange 5 greatly assists in maintaining the rigidity of thelip. Although the closure means of the invention is particularly adaptedfor use with a bung inserter, the whole area surrounding the opening hasbeen so strengthened and reenforced that it is quite practical to hammerbungs into an opening in a barrel employing this construction withoutbending or deforming the metal.

The completed closure means which has been illustrated and describedpresents a very effective way of sealing a metal barrel-at a fraction ofthe cost involvedn'the use of screw caps. Furthermore, an equallyeffective seal is 'provided and one which can be removed with facilitywhen the occasion demands.

Obviously, the opening in the barrel need not necessarily be in the top,as shown, although it is preferable that it be in a flat surface as.otherwise the forming of the metal presents a somewhat more difhcultproblem.

Having fully described my invention, I claim:

l. In a metal barrel or like container a wall having an opening therein,a neck upstanding around the periphery of said opening, an annular sheetmetal bush tted in said opening interiorly of the neck, said bush havingsmooth ared inner sides for the reception of a tapered Wooden bung; theupper edge of said bush being bent substantially perpendicular to theouter edge of the neck and reversely bent downwardly to form an extendedlip of double thickness; the under edge of the reversely bent portionbeing contacted and supported by the upper edge of the neck; the loweredge of the bush being likewise bent outwardly to engage the inner.surface of the wall of the container and restrain vertical movement ofthe bush in the neck.

2. A metal barrel or like container having an opening therein surroundedby an upstanding peripheral flange, an annular sheet metal bush fittedin said opening interiorly of the flange, said bush having smooth flaredinner sides for the reception of a tapered wooden bung, the upper edgeof said bush being bent outwardly and reversely bent downwardly to forman extended lip of double thickness, the under edge of the reverselybent portion being contacted and supported by the upper edge of thefiange, an annular gasket positioned'interiorly of the container andsurrounding the inner edge of the opening therein, the lower edge of thebush being bent outwardly peripherally below the gasket and contactingsaid gasket and maintaining it in sealing engagement between the bushand the container.

GEORGE W. LAWTON.

